Windvane

Amgine · May 23, 2009, 09:39:22 AM

I'm gettin' kinda desperate to find a wind vane on a micro budget.

What I want is a Jean de Sud (Cape Horn), but that's twice what my budget is. I simply ran out of cash before I got around to the windvane. And I've come up with exactly one used windvane, a trim-tab of a kind which won't easily adapt to my inboard rudder.

I've looked over Walt Murray's designs, and I'm not entirely sure I have the necessary skills to build any of them. With enough time and materials I'm sure I could produce one, but I have just about a month and a half to complete the many other tasks involved in getting a boat ready, and one week before I lose my dock.

So, does anyone know where the fabled graveyard of used windvanes might be found, or have the skills/time/tools to put together a Walt Murray design for me? (Here's your chance to have someone else pay for you to build your first one, so you know what not to do wrong the second time around!) Or is there some other design I've overlooked in my searches for 2k or less USD? Hmm, maybe this shoulda been posted in sellfar...

Saltfish · May 23, 2009, 11:52:51 AM

Amgine, I ran into this ad on the corpus christi craigslist.

Scanmar Monitor Windvane - $1500 (Rockport, TX)

Date: 2009-05-23, 3:56AM CDT

Mechanical self-steering for your sailboat. Manufactured by Scanmar. Set up is for a tiller but you can get parts from Scanmar for a wheel. All attachment parts and spare parts included.

Windvane is all crated up, ready for shipping. Pictures at May 17th ad.

LooseMoose · May 23, 2009, 12:30:15 PM

The Walt Murrry designs are pretty simple to build. Its even easier to build a auxilliary rudder vane gear and they have some advantages...If you have a transom mounted rudder the easiest method is simply adding a trim tab to your rudder.

You might also want to look for used... Monitor and Cape Horn are the "HIP" gears but the Atoms, RVG, Navagear, Aries and many others can be found for less than $500 and will all work as well as a Monitor or Cape Horn as turth be told all the various vane gears work pretty much the same and what you are paying for on the others is hype and advertising.

I used to have an RVG which is a great gear and now have an Atoms both types work great...

Bob

http://boatbits.blogspot.com/
http://fishingundersail.blogspot.com/
http://islandgourmand.blogspot.com/

CharlieJ · May 23, 2009, 02:33:37 PM

Saw that Scanmar in Rockport at the flea market. Looked to be in very decent condition.

newt · May 23, 2009, 05:05:42 PM

Wayne-
i will be back in Bellingham on the 5th. I would love to come up to your boat and figure out a sheet to tiller arrangement while you sail. No cost- you just supply the material (less than $50) Beat that! I even have some spare surgical tubing if I can just find it...
Newt (lost among the supplies he's refitting with)

Bluenose · May 23, 2009, 09:15:11 PM

Quote from: newt on May 23, 2009, 05:05:42 PM
Wayne-
i will be back in Bellingham on the 5th. I would love to come up to your boat and figure out a sheet to tiller arrangement while you sail. No cost- you just supply the material (less than $50) Beat that! I even have some spare surgical tubing if I can just find it...
Newt (lost among the supplies he's refitting with)

Any chance you want to make that a group tutorial?

Bill

Lopez Island, WA
(Just South of Vancouver Island)

Amgine · May 23, 2009, 11:10:28 PM

Well, assuming my mast is back to vertical before the first as it's supposed to be... I may very well be down in Bellingham Bay for the 5th. Unfortunately, I can't make any commitments, but it sure sounds like it could be a fun group presentation.

Say, where's the boat atm? If the boat's back in the water, and you don't have anything lined up, Lopez is just a hop/skip away from Bellingham... Bluenose: do you have a dock/mooring?

newt · May 24, 2009, 12:34:42 PM

Love to have you along Bill. I do not think my boat will be splashed until that weekend (13) simply because I have so much to do on it. (if it gets splashed before July) But I can always spare an afternoon when the wind is in... 8)
I will bring setup for a tiller- since I am assuming both of you have one. It is a little easier to do with a tiller than a wheel because there are less components in the steerage.
Also- this is not a panacea. The lighter a boat is the more your weight affects the balance, and therefore the steering. But it is an additional tool when your voyaging, or just want to run down to the head or check the charts etc...
I like to use it when I go to the bow to enjoy the view. I also find, interestingly enough, that I sail faster with my hand off the tiller. Haven't quite figured that one out. ;D

Bluenose · May 24, 2009, 02:04:20 PM

Quote from: newt on May 24, 2009, 12:34:42 PM
I also find, interestingly enough, that I sail faster with my hand off the tiller. Haven't quite figured that one out. ;D

It might be time to check, replace or chuck you gps. Must be faulty ???

I appreciate you offer to let me tag along. I don't want to get in the way of Amgine getting his system built, I would just love to be a fly on the wall. I need some self steering ability but don't have electricity (for a tiller pilot) or a big enough stern for a windvane.

Quote from: Amgine on May 23, 2009, 11:10:28 PM
Well, assuming my mast is back to vertical before the first as it's supposed to be... I may very well be down in Bellingham Bay for the 5th. Unfortunately, I can't make any commitments, but it sure sounds like it could be a fun group presentation.

Say, where's the boat atm? If the boat's back in the water, and you don't have anything lined up, Lopez is just a hop/skip away from Bellingham... Bluenose: do you have a dock/mooring?

Amgine,

As far as hosting goes... Bolero is on a mooring in Fishermans Bay.

The mooring is new last year so we could raft up. Or there is plenty of great anchoring in the bay. 10 to 20 ft deep and thick mud. Stay too long, and you might not leave. Wind isn't bad depending on the when we do it. Typically the southerlies shoot up through San Juan channel. So even on light wind days 5 to 10 kts we could reach back and forth between Lopez and San Juan island (2 miles or so).

I am pretty flexible on the dates or locations. Just get those boats back in service and let me know.

Cheers, Bill

TJim · May 25, 2009, 08:41:35 AM

Have you checked out Norvane? I have one on my Triton and it works every bit as good as the Monitor on my Ranger. They have great "NEW" pricing. TJim

Amgine · May 25, 2009, 10:09:32 PM

Never even *heard* of Norvane before! Now that I look over the site, I think I read a blog entry about this design (distinctive vane), but I don't remember the url now. Thanks for another good idea! Now to do my usual hyper over-research of the design, and muddle the waters more than ever they should be.

I've been really intrigued by the stainless Walt (for Walter Murray) design from Mr. Vee. It's the only commercial version of an upside-down vane I've found so far, but I have to admit it looks a bit... flimsy. Not that it is, just how it looks to me from the armchair.

Captain Smollett · May 25, 2009, 10:40:58 PM

Just a quick note on Walt Murray...

Great guy. He contacted me during the design phase about doing some flow dynamics and yaw rate calculations. We spoke on the phone a couple of times. As I said, great guy.

I don't think anyone would go wrong with one of his vane designs....

newt · May 25, 2009, 11:30:11 PM

Hey that Norvane looks great. And I must say Bill. that boat of yours is by far the best looking one in the bay. I can see why you wouldn't want to change the shape in any way. I went by Lopez island a few weeks ago, and will hopefully stop by during the summer. I will email you when I get plans finalized.
I'm off to Florida in the am! To arms! ;D

Bill NH · June 05, 2009, 09:20:38 PM

Just posted on the Yahoo Albin Vega group... Might be worth pursuing, sounds like a good deal.

We are selling our Norvane wind vane that has been steering Whisper around the Caribbean for the past two years. Works like new, comes with a full set of spare parts and all set up for a Vega. $1,000 (or make me an offer)

Hans
s/v Whisper

TJim · June 06, 2009, 09:25:48 AM

A$1000 this is a steal. I doubt you'll fall into a better deal on a windvane.... esentially new for half price. I have a Norvane on my Triton and a Monitor on my Ranger, from a performance stand point I can see no difference.
Try finding a Monitor that is esentially new for a grand. My Norvane is almost 4 years out and is esentially like a new one and I'd have to have $1700 to part with it, if it was for sale. TJ

Amgine · June 06, 2009, 02:14:03 PM

Thanks for the head's up on this! I've attempted to send an e-mail.

The Norvane is on my short list already, although I wonder if I need the smaller or the next size up on my Cape Dory 25D. The boat is a bit heavy for a 25' at approximately 6000 pounds with gear, fuel, water, crew.

TJim: Can you hook a tiller pilot up to the Norvane for motoring/magnetic course? Haven't seen that mentioned anywhere on the Norvane site. Not a requirement or anything, just a nice-to-have feature.

olivertwist · June 28, 2009, 06:14:31 PM

If anyone is interested, I have a complete Sailomat Windvane 3040 that I've decided not to install on my Cape Dory 28. I bought it last year for $1500 and will sell for the same. It comes with the user guide and all hardware including two vanes, one for light wind and one for strong. Pictures available to serious inquirers.

AdriftAtSea · June 28, 2009, 11:43:45 PM

Oliver—

I'd be interested in finding out more. :)

olivertwist · June 30, 2009, 05:36:20 PM

AdriftAtSea,

I sent email to the address on your blog. Contact me by email if you get it.

Oliver

Rick Westlake · March 19, 2012, 12:49:13 AM

Quote from: TJim on May 25, 2009, 08:41:35 AM
Have you checked out Norvane? I have one on my Triton and it works every bit as good as the Monitor on my Ranger. They have great "NEW" pricing. TJim

The Tartan 37 next to my slip, a boat that never moved in 2011 (though they did retrieve the pressure-cooker in the cockpit when I mentioned it to the marina manager), has a windvane with "sergeant's stripes" on top of its structure. I searched in vain for a similarly-decorated windvane, until this morning.

Thank you very much for that, TJim, and I wonder how many "Grog" ratings I can give you!

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